A word of caution about Griffith
11-17-2006, 01:40 PM
#16
Nordschleife Master
My understanding is that making "special" hoses isn't a high hurdle, something like $50 from a shop with the right equipment.
What about the coils, is griffith still the only source, best source?
The 83 I am going to look at on Monday says "may need a recharge" Hah, AC is something I would want to fix just once if possible and I just heard yesterday that Performance Aire near where I live isn't doing 928's anymore.
What about the coils, is griffith still the only source, best source?
The 83 I am going to look at on Monday says "may need a recharge" Hah, AC is something I would want to fix just once if possible and I just heard yesterday that Performance Aire near where I live isn't doing 928's anymore.
11-17-2006, 01:45 PM
#17
Race Director
Originally Posted by Champagne
If I was to do it all over again, I would simply have a reputable shop rebuild the original Nippondenso 6E171 unit.
Paul
The Nippondenso 6E171 is a very common very strong unit......used in many different vehicles with only slight changes to mounting locations.....I've seen many rebuilt on ebay for $150-250....& a few guys on here have used the ebay specials with good results.....thats what I would do if mine failed!!
11-17-2006, 02:09 PM
#18
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by heinrich
Paul, I have known you for some years now to be a very honest, very good man. I read your post a couple of times. I think it is clear, from just an outside viewer's perspective, that there is very likely a problem with the way the compressor was installed. Maybe it was alignment, maybe something else. The unit that Griffith supplies may certainly be a POS, that is also possible. I know there are others with that particular unit that have had no issues.
Now, about customer service. If I were Griffith I might have a hard time believing that in your particular case, three compressors have failed due to defect. Griffith sell many of these, they should know of any other failures. Let's assume for a minute they don't, and you are the only customer whose unit has failed three times in rapid succession. In their mind, your technician's instal job is the issue. I'm not sure how they would handle it.
Now if we believe that they have these complaints from others ... then yes, I would say they are dodging the issue and their service sucks.
Either way Paul, I have posted these types of things before and every time, no matter how legitimate I know my grip was .... I was sorry later that I had posted it.
I wish you the best. Please let us know how the Japanese part works. Certainly if it does not fail ... then it would appear that the Griffith unit is a POS.
All the best Paul, and keep cool
Heinrich
(I have never done business with Griffith)
Now, about customer service. If I were Griffith I might have a hard time believing that in your particular case, three compressors have failed due to defect. Griffith sell many of these, they should know of any other failures. Let's assume for a minute they don't, and you are the only customer whose unit has failed three times in rapid succession. In their mind, your technician's instal job is the issue. I'm not sure how they would handle it.
Now if we believe that they have these complaints from others ... then yes, I would say they are dodging the issue and their service sucks.
Either way Paul, I have posted these types of things before and every time, no matter how legitimate I know my grip was .... I was sorry later that I had posted it.
I wish you the best. Please let us know how the Japanese part works. Certainly if it does not fail ... then it would appear that the Griffith unit is a POS.
All the best Paul, and keep cool
Heinrich
(I have never done business with Griffith)
I did not post this lightly and as you might have noticed, I tried to simply state the facts as pertained to my own situation.
The shop that did the install is in the clear. When we opened up the last 2 compressor, it was extremely clear what the problem was.
I even took both compressors to a local wholesaler for an opinion and the consensus was the same. We checked and measured the oil and everything was 100%. We opened the dryer and there was no debris at all in it.
The one thing that we did find is that apparently, that model used to have a brass contact shoe and that was changed to what looks like a pot metal shoe.
Both seized compressors had the same thing.
Like I said at the beginning. This is a word of caution based on my own experience.
I am in business too, and if one of my clients had a problem with one of my products for the 3rd time, I would have taken care of him differently.
The last compressor was 2 months old and 250 miles.
Paul
11-17-2006, 02:27 PM
#19
928 Collector
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
OK well that is a very interesting piece of information about the pot metal shoe. One would think that a brass piece wears and a pot metal one breaks. Actually I would say the customer service issues you have experienced Paul, sound like peripheral, and the actual issue is the hardware. Granted, they should make it right, which is where the customer service comes in. I understand better now Paul 
thanks for sharing. I will continue to use Porsche units as always
Best,
Heinrich
thanks for sharing. I will continue to use Porsche units as always Best,
Heinrich
11-17-2006, 02:37 PM
#20
Originally Posted by SharkSkin
The guy who answered the phone was a grouch though, I was wondering how it would go if I were a dissatisfied customer rather than a prospective customer, but I jumped in hoping for the best. Sorry to hear about your troubles. 
Rack kits are 40 bucks in the mail, The reseal kits for the huge, heavy, but sturdy 6 something V something compressors on the middle year cars is about 15 dollars.
The Kuehl was billed as a lighter weight more efficient piece. Are these other names being mentioned the same? Or are they just as large and heavy as the original?
11-17-2006, 02:40 PM
#21
Paul - the "Special" bracket that allows this smaller compressor (keuhl) to be put on the later cars - is this bracket also usable for the compressor you purchased new? Did you have to buy new lines?
11-17-2006, 03:05 PM
#22
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by BrendanC
Paul - the "Special" bracket that allows this smaller compressor (keuhl) to be put on the later cars - is this bracket also usable for the compressor you purchased new? Did you have to buy new lines?
the main reason I went through 3 of these Kuehl is that I wanted to keep that bracket and the new hoses. Insight tells me that I should have trashed the whole thing and gone back to original.
The Seltec I have now fits nicely on the Griffith bracket. We had to modify one bolt that was giving us clearance problems and we modified one of the hoses.
the Seltec is the same size as the Kuehl but develops more.
Although in all honesty, I don't see any difference in output inside the car.
When the Kuehl worked, it worked well. Just not for very long
Paul
11-17-2006, 03:12 PM
#23
So can you identify if the hoses (which seem to be different as you mention) are available seapratly. This would make the total price of upgrade more like 450 with the compressor price you mentioned.
11-17-2006, 03:41 PM
#24
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by BrendanC
So can you identify if the hoses (which seem to be different as you mention) are available seapratly. This would make the total price of upgrade more like 450 with the compressor price you mentioned.
As someone posted earlier, hoses do not seem to be a big problem if you have access to a specialised shop that does this kind of work.
Paul
11-17-2006, 03:48 PM
#25
Originally Posted by Champagne
I'm sorry, I don't have that information. My tech simply took the existing hose to his AC supplier and changed one of the fittings on one end. Took 15 minutes.
As someone posted earlier, hoses do not seem to be a big problem if you have access to a specialised shop that does this kind of work.
Paul
As someone posted earlier, hoses do not seem to be a big problem if you have access to a specialised shop that does this kind of work.
Paul
11-17-2006, 04:05 PM
#26
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by BrendanC
I'll have to look for one of those when I do this. I really want working AC in my 928s. Where did you get the compressor? Online?
I personnaly don't think that the extra weight and size of the original Nippondenso is an issue and they are work horses. Mine was original to the car and was still working when I got it. That made it 16 years old.
I would not go through the assle of changing over.
Paul
11-17-2006, 04:10 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by heinrich
Paul, I have known you for some years now to be a very honest, very good man. I read your post a couple of times. I think it is clear, from just an outside viewer's perspective, that there is very likely a problem with the way the compressor was installed. Maybe it was alignment, maybe something else. The unit that Griffith supplies may certainly be a POS, that is also possible. I know there are others with that particular unit that have had no issues.
Now, about customer service. If I were Griffith I might have a hard time believing that in your particular case, three compressors have failed due to defect. Griffith sell many of these, they should know of any other failures. Let's assume for a minute they don't, and you are the only customer whose unit has failed three times in rapid succession. In their mind, your technician's instal job is the issue. I'm not sure how they would handle it.
Now if we believe that they have these complaints from others ... then yes, I would say they are dodging the issue and their service sucks.
Either way Paul, I have posted these types of things before and every time, no matter how legitimate I know my grip was .... I was sorry later that I had posted it.
I wish you the best. Please let us know how the Japanese part works. Certainly if it does not fail ... then it would appear that the Griffith unit is a POS.
All the best Paul, and keep cool
Heinrich
(I have never done business with Griffith)
Now, about customer service. If I were Griffith I might have a hard time believing that in your particular case, three compressors have failed due to defect. Griffith sell many of these, they should know of any other failures. Let's assume for a minute they don't, and you are the only customer whose unit has failed three times in rapid succession. In their mind, your technician's instal job is the issue. I'm not sure how they would handle it.
Now if we believe that they have these complaints from others ... then yes, I would say they are dodging the issue and their service sucks.
Either way Paul, I have posted these types of things before and every time, no matter how legitimate I know my grip was .... I was sorry later that I had posted it.
I wish you the best. Please let us know how the Japanese part works. Certainly if it does not fail ... then it would appear that the Griffith unit is a POS.
All the best Paul, and keep cool
Heinrich
(I have never done business with Griffith)
11-17-2006, 11:03 PM
#28
Basic Sponsor
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I would not buy from them or recommend them purely from there lack of customer support.
Thanks for the heads up Paul - memo to self cross Griffiths of the list.
Thanks for the heads up Paul - memo to self cross Griffiths of the list.
__________________
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
11-18-2006, 02:46 AM
#29
Three Wheelin'
Originally Posted by Earl Gillstrom
Are the Sanden or Seltic bolt on or do you have to make special hoses and mounts to adapt to the 928?
When you do a retro you almost always are looking at making spacers if not both brackets and spacers to do the job. That is unless you can find a kit like what Paul an others found from Griffith.
Hoses and Connector
On cars like the 928, it is a sure bet you’re going to want to change the hoses, for two main reasons, 1. Age and 2. Compatibility. Should you be tempted to convert to R-134, rather than staying with R-12, your old hoses will either leak (seep) or simply burst from the new higher head pressures that are associated with R-134 conversions.
Connectors are another given as they will most likely need to conform to the configuration of the new compressor being retrofitted.
_____________________________________________________________________
Here is a little trivia.
Sankyo (sp?) SD-505, -507, -508 were the choice compressors for retro in the early - mid eighties because it was tough, lightweight and ease to make brackets for. Not to mention a dime a dozen in the bone yards due to the fact almost every Japanese car and truck had one.
Sanden now makes the Sankyo SD508 and they call it their “5 series”.
______________________________________________________________________
Hey Paul! When you get a chance, would you post some pics of you new compressor set-up?
I wouldn’t normally ask this of anyone, but I know you have a very nice four post lift that makes this a snap , pardon the pun
Cheers, Curtis
11-18-2006, 11:15 AM
#30
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by T_MaX
Hey Paul! When you get a chance, would you post some pics of you new compressor set-up?
I wouldn’t normally ask this of anyone, but I know you have a very nice four post lift that makes this a snap , pardon the pun
Cheers, Curtis
Paul